Hiroyuki Koshikawa – Roma Squatters in Berlin

Berlin was famous its for squats until some years ago. Inside an abandoned building near in Mitte that is home now to dozens of Roma, including a few married couples and many of their friends and relatives, most of whom came from the Bulgaria. Since several years ago, the number of Roma immigrants in Berlin has been growing, and they come to Germany make better life. They have a tight-knit community between the walls of their squat, but their economic lives outside consist of everything from menial janitorial work to metal salvaging to prostitution.

It is estimated that around 10 million Roma lives throughout Europe today, with many suffering from economic hardship, unemployment, poor housing and other forms of impoverishment.

Hang the laundry out.

He is cleaning up the abandoned building.

Aldin, 54, is from Dobrich, Bulgaria. He has been squatting in abandoned buildings in Berlin since 2008.

Most of the squatters are relatives or were friends in Bulgaria.

Metal scrap with red chair. It takes time to break up this many things.To pick up it is the one of the their works.

Aldin is checking the clothes in front of the abandoned buildings.

More images on Hiroyuki Koshikawa‘s website. Hiroyuki Koshikawa is a self-taught photographer from Japan and he lives in Berlin since 2011. He came back to Japan in 2014, and currently based in Berlin and Tokyo.
His photographs feature Berlin daily life, Gypsies’ daily life in abandoned buildings, and Eastern Europe captured during the travels.